LAHORE: As many as twenty one diplomats from 17 countries discussed economy, Chambers role in the economic growth, establishment of new businesses and capacity building of entrepreneurs here at Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Wednesday.
Briefing the diplomatic team, headed by Director General Foreign Services Academy Murad Ali, the Lahore Chamber's Vice President Kashif Anwar highlighted various LCCI initiatives for economic revival.
Lahore Chamber, he said, was planning to hold three single country exhibitions to promote Pakistani merchandise at global business destinations, and it also sends and receives business delegations regularly to highlight Pakistan soft and real image.
The LCCI established a Mediation Centre at its premises with the help and cooperation of International Finance Corporation for the out-of-court settlement of business disputes.
He observed the diplomats' role was crucial for economic turnaround and well-being, because they had enough knowledge to portray economic potentials of any country to the outer world and thus pave way for foreign investment.
At present, he said, it was necessary that developing economies enhanced trade amongst themselves and prioritized Afro-Asian partnership that could either be in the form of regional blocs such as ECO, African Union or through other bilateral cooperation. The ECO, which has remained dormant for quite a long time should be activated.
Kashif Anwar said Pakistan was a gateway to Central Asian States and development of Gwadar Deep Seaport and highways in Pakistan would give a jumpstart to trade of Central Asian states in the regional context and worldwide, as these land locked countries would be easily accessible to the Afro-Asian countries.
The LCCI's primary objective was to protect and promote business community interests and it acted as a bridge between the government and the business community.
The LCCI Vice President urged the diplomats to identify tradable items, which leave a lot of room for product/market diversification, asserting, the basics for such exercises stem in the exchange of information among diplomatic missions and the Chambers.
He said the diplomats should also promote investment and trade between the states, citing that building long-term economic ties were the best guarantee of peace in this world.
LCCI Executive Committee Members Mian Muhammad Afzal, Zafar Mehmood, former EC member Waqar Ahmad Mian and Secretary General Saqlain Naqvi also spoke on the occasion.
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